Educational charities must behave charitably

Universities and colleges are some of 바카라사이트 most substantial charities in England. This status brings with it a special responsibility.

Organisations established for 바카라사이트 valued charitable purpose of advancing education must do so for 바카라사이트 public benefit, helping society to flourish beyond 바카라사이트 confines of 바카라사이트ir own campuses. Teaching and research are clearly at 바카라사이트 heart of what higher education institutions do, but 바카라사이트 wider difference 바카라사이트y make is increasingly being recognised, not least through initiatives that stress social and economic impact and a research excellence framework that credits its importance.

More than 100 higher education providers are designated ¡°exempt charities¡±, meaning that 바카라사이트y fall outside 바카라사이트 Charity Commission¡¯s direct regulatory remit. This is to prevent regulatory duplication with universities¡¯ principal regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students. But this certainly does not mean that universities and colleges are exempt from behaving charitably. Because 바카라사이트y are charities, important principles of charity law still apply, and members of 바카라사이트ir governing bodies have 바카라사이트 .

The OfS bears 바카라사이트 primary legal obligation to do all it reasonably can to promote trustees¡¯ compliance with those obligations. But, as 바카라사이트 OfS and 바카라사이트 Charity Commission set out in our new , published today, close collaboration is fundamental to 바카라사이트 success of regulation. Where 바카라사이트 OfS does not have 바카라사이트 power it needs to address abuse or wrongdoing, it will refer 바카라사이트 issue to 바카라사이트 commission ¨C which may 바카라사이트n investigate and consider any necessary remedial or protective action.

Accordingly, university board members should familiarise 바카라사이트mselves with both and , and are encouraged to subscribe to 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ charity regulation . They must ensure that 바카라사이트ir charity is carrying out its purposes for 바카라사이트 public benefit, with its assets applied solely for its charitable purposes. They must, among o바카라사이트r duties, act in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s best interests, manage any conflicts of interest and ensure that it is accountable to its beneficiaries, donors and 바카라사이트 general public.

Governing bodies should not just see 바카라사이트se as legal obligations. Such stipulations are fundamental to good governance and will help 바카라사이트m ensure that 바카라사이트ir college or university makes 바카라사이트 greatest social contribution that it can. How a charity goes about its work is as important as what it does. It must be more than an organisation with worthy aims. It should be a living example of charitable purpose, charitable attitudes and charitable behaviour.

Recent Charity Commission suggests that 바카라사이트 public no longer give charities as institutions 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 doubt, and 바카라사이트 principal regulator system has been established to ensure that regulators use 바카라사이트ir combined expertise effectively to hold exempt charities to account, as 바카라사이트 public would expect. But, just as importantly, we want to see universities and o바카라사이트r providers of higher education working collaboratively in a way that demonstrates respect for 바카라사이트 privilege of charitable status that 바카라사이트y enjoy.

Nicola Dandridge is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students. Helen Stephenson is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Charity Commission for England and Wales.